Hyundai Showcases Energy-Saving Cabin Climate Systems

Advanced, energy-saving cabin heating and cooling systems are unveiled by the Hyundai Motor Group.

The automaker reveals the new technologies at its Heat Tech Day in Seoul, South Korea, including an interior nano cooling film, an underfloor heating system and metal-coated glass to defrost windshields.

Engineers from both the Hyundai and Kia brands have been testing the nano cooling film for more than a year and claim that, when applied to multiple vehicles, can reduce cabin temperatures by up to 54.5°F (12.5°C).

Tests on vehicles with normal glass not equipped with the special coating show that when recording an interior temperature of 119.3°F (48.5°C), those with the nano cooling film record just 96.8°F (36.0°C).

The automaker says the technology not only blocks infrared radiation from outside the vehicle, as do traditional tinting films, but also allows heat to escape from inside the vehicle. It is made up of three layers, including two that reflect solar energy and one that emits mid-infrared wavelength.

The company’s underfloor radiant heating system claims to be able to warm passengers within minutes in winter conditions by directing heat toward passengers’ legs. It works in tandem with existing heating systems but claims to conserve up to 17% more energy to reach a desired temperature while speeding up the heating process. The system claims to deliver warmth to the lower body within three minutes.

It features a high-temperature film-type heating element and a burn prevention system. The heating element, which can reach 230.9°F (110°C), is wrapped in a fabric material that emits infrared rays and adjusts the heat to a comfortable level. A burn prevention system detects body contact and immediately lowers the temperature. It is currently used on the Kia EV9 but will be rolled out to other Hyundai Group models in future.

The automaker’s metal-coated heated glass removes frost or moisture from a vehicle windshield during winter, improving visibility and increasing safety compared with regular tungsten wire heating elements. It is also invisible, providing a clear, undistorted view for occupants.

It works using a 48V electric system and claims to be able to completely defrost the glass surface within five minutes at -0.4°F (-18°C), up to four times faster and consuming around 10% less energy compared with conventional air-conditioning systems. Additionally, on hot days, the metal coating can passively block at least 60% of solar energy, reducing cabin cooling requirements to significantly improve energy efficiency.

Young Ho Jung, vice president and head of thermal energy with the Total Development Group at Hyundai Motor Company, says: “The three technologies unveiled today are closer to customers than any other technology. We are developing technologies to provide the most pleasant environment, considering every moment that customers experience in mobility.”